The Environmental Health program is responsible for the inspection of all restaurants and retail markets in La Plata county.
View the Food Safety Page.
Minimum health and sanitation requirements for operation and maintenance are established and regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and La Plata County.
Colorado regulations require that tattoo and piercing artists comply with certain basic infection prevention precautions and disinfection and sterilization techniques. Click here for more information.
La Plata County's Water Lab provides water testing for water and wastewater operators and residents with private wells. Water bacteriology testing determines the absence or presence of Total Coliform and EColi bacteria.
Visit Water Lab Page.
La Plata County Public Health Department (LPCPHD) regulates on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), also known as septic systems, within La Plata County. LPCPHD also provides inspection and project review services to San Juan County, Colorado. Visit our septic systems webpage for more information.
Outbreaks of recreational water illnesses are reported in the U.S. every year. Healthy swimming practices are an essential piece of protecting yourself and those you care about from illness.
Promote Healthy Swimming
Specific actions you can take to promote healthy swimming include:
- Do not swim when you have diarrhea.
- Do not swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.
- Shower before swimming (children too!).
- Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
- Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
- Change children's diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.
For more information
visit the Centers for Disease Control Healthy Swimming/Recreational Water webpage or
download the CDC Healthy Swimming brochure (PDF).
Current Air Quality Conditions, Forecasts & Advisories
AirNow and AirNow for Smoke, published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are the best resources for current air quality data and forecasting. Air quality in Colorado, outside the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe reservation, is regulated by the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division (APCD). APCD publishes official Air Quality Advisories and a Colorado Smoke Outlook.
About Air Pollution
Pollutants of concern that are monitored in southwest Colorado include particulate pollution, also known as particulate matter (PM), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Although all counties in southwest Colorado are currently listed as "in attainment" of Clean Air Act standards for these pollutants, they can still be elevated during short-term weather and pollution events like wildfires. For more information about these pollutants and others, visit the links on the EPA's page on Air Quality Index and Your Health.
Open Burning
All persons conducting open burning operations, other than agricultural burning for soil preparation, weed control, or maintenance of ditches and other water structures, must first obtain an open burning permit from the State of Colorado and inform the local fire department. The state open burn permit application may be found here. Piles to be burnt must be small enough to be out cold by sunset, or 8 cubic feet.
Campfires, non-commercial cooking fires, and agricultural burning do not need an open burn permit, but any of these may be restricted by our county governments or fire protection districts.
Click here for more information and current restrictions.
Other Resources
Radon is a naturally occurring invisible, odorless gas that comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks, and water. Radon exposure is the nation's second-leading cause of lung cancer and the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. Due to the geology of southwest Colorado, homes in this area have higher levels of radon than the national average. La Plata County addresses this elevated risk by providing radon education workshops in the winter, when radon levels are highest, and providing free testing kits.
Visit the radon page.
Colorado laws and regulations generally do not allow local public health agencies, including LPCPHD, to intervene in private homes or rental properties in regard to mold. However, Colorado law does require in most cases that landlords maintain rental properties in a habitable condition. Click our Rental Properties tab below for more information.
Additional information is available from:
La Plata County does not have authority to intervene in tenant-landlord disputes, even if caused by a health-related issue. However, Colorado's Implied Warranty of Habitability Law does require that landlords offer rental property in a condition fit for human habitation. Consult this Handbook from Colorado Housing Connects (PDF) for more information and sample notification letters to your landlord in both English and Spanish. Additional information is available from Colorado Legal Services here.
Mobile home parks in Colorado are regulated by the Mobile Home Park Oversight Program (MHPOP) at the Colorado Division of Housing. MHPOP provides resources to mobile homeowners and park owners and has a dispute resolution program for alleged violations of the Mobile Home Park Act.
La Plata County has minimal authorities under the Mobile Home Park Act. Suspected violations of the Act and disputes between landlords and tenants in a mobile home park should be reported to MHPOP.
